KENAI — He entered the prison system when he was 20 years old. During a robbery, Rey Soto killed a man. Back then, he failed to grasp the importance of life, he said.

For 10 years, he enrolled in programs within the state’s prison system. Soto reached a point where he felt the need to put his knowledge to practice. And six months ago, he joined Wildwood Correctional Center’s new dog program inmates train dogs the prison receives from the Kenai Animal Shelter.